Things to Do in Nami Island: Walks, Rides and Seasonal Sights

1. Walk the named tree lanes

The lanes are the reason most people come. Metasequoia Lane is the famous one, Central Korean Pine Tree Lane runs from Nami Wharf to the central plaza, Songpa Gingko Tree Lane is about 100 m long and blazes yellow in late autumn, Cherry Tree Lane blooms in spring, Tulip Tree Lane runs about 300 m, and Reed Woods Lane follows the water. All are free once you are on the island, and a slow walk through all of them takes about two hours.

The island holds Korea's largest private garden designation and its Garden Map covers 27 gardens grouped as Theme, Memorial, Story and Citizen's gardens, so there is always another path.

2. Ride the zipline onto the island

The zipline descends from an 80 m tower for about 1 km over the Bukhan River and lands on the island. It costs KRW 55,000 on the 5% grade slope and KRW 58,000 on the 15% grade slope, and the price includes island admission and the return ferry. Riders must be 140 to 200 cm tall and 45 to 120 kg.

It can only be used to enter the island, so it replaces your inbound ferry rather than adding a ride. Tickets are bought at the Zip Tower opposite the ticket office in the car park.

3. Rent a bike at the Bike Center

The Bike Center sits in the middle of the island between the UNICEF Lounge and Unchi Garden and opens 09:00-18:00, weather and sunset permitting. Riding round the island takes about one hour. Rentals include single bikes, couple bikes, family bikes, electric tri-way bikes and EZ-Bikes.

You cannot bring your own bicycle, e-bike or scooter on the ferry.

4. Find the Winter Sonata filming spots

The 2001 KBS drama Winter Sonata was shot here and made the island famous across Asia. A scenic wooden riverside path runs the length of the island, and the Winter Sonata statue stands in Gongsaengwon Garden. The first snow-covered scenes from the drama are what draw winter visitors.

Photographing the lanes and the statue costs nothing beyond your ticket.

5. Eat chicken skewers, hotteok and cafe treats

Street food stalls sell hotteok, grilled sausages and the island's signature chicken skewers. Swing Cafe and Snow Cafe offer riverside views for a sit down. Sonata Cafe, in front of Metasequoia Lane, is the stop for Nami Island Sweet Rice Ssiat Hotteok and ice flake sundaes, and it is take-away only.

For a fuller meal off the island, see our guide to chuncheon dakgalbi, the spicy chicken dish the region is known for.

6. Ride the Charity Train or the Story Tour Bus

If walking is not for everyone in your group, the Charity Train runs between the Song Museum entrance and the central station in the main square for KRW 4,000 one way. The Story Tour Bus loop takes 20 minutes from the booth near Nami Wharf for KRW 10,000. Both let small children and tired legs see the whole island.

7. Take a motorboat island round tour

Motorboat round tours run from the island. The island round course costs KRW 40,000 per boat for up to 5 people, the Jara Island round course KRW 60,000, and the Nami plus Jara course KRW 80,000. A Supercar Boat island round tour costs KRW 80,000 per boat for up to 4 people and operates through November 15.

A motorboat-only transfer from Gapyeong Wharf costs KRW 10,000 per person to Nami Wharf or KRW 15,000 to Meta Wharf, with the island ticket bought separately.

8. Try TreeGo and the TreeCoaster

TreeGo, the treetop adventure course, runs weekends and public holidays only and costs KRW 13,000 for 1 pass, KRW 20,000 for 2 or KRW 27,000 for 3. The TreeCoaster limits riders to 94 to 187 cm tall and 20 to 100 kg. Both suit families with older kids.

9. Play, picnic and browse the shops

The Picture Book Playground keeps young children busy, the Song Museum covers the island's musical heritage, and a riverside picnic on a mat is allowed, though tents and drones are not. Souvenir shops are Artshop Imagine Nami in front of Baplex and Artshop Snowman at Mayhouse. Photo booths run 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM and cost KRW 6,000 for a 1+1 set of two sheets.

Activity summary and prices

All prices below come from the island operator and the Korea Tourism Organization. Entry is KRW 19,000 regular, KRW 16,000 discount and KRW 13,000 special, all including the round-trip regular ferry. Children under 36 months enter free.

By train and on foot

From Yongsan the ITX-Cheongchun to Gapyeong Station takes about 60 minutes, from Cheongnyangni about 42 minutes, and the Gyeongchun Line from Sangbong takes about 50 minutes. Gapyeong Station to the wharf is about 1.5 km, roughly 20 minutes on foot or 5 minutes by No. 10-4 bus or taxi. A daily Seoul-Nami direct shuttle run by Ktourstory leaves Hongik Univ Station Exit 4 at 09:00, Namsan Yejang at 09:40 and DDP Station Exit 9 at 09:50, reaching the island at 11:30, and returns from Nami at 16:30.

Crossing the water

Regular ferries run every 30 minutes from 08:00 to 09:00, every 10 to 20 minutes from 09:00 to 18:00 and every 30 minutes from 18:00 to 21:00. The first ferry in is 08:00 and the last 21:00, with the first ferry off the island at 08:05 and the last at 21:05. The crossing takes about 5 minutes after boarding.

Ferries run every day of the year, in rain, and an icebreaker keeps them going when the river freezes. The motorboat runs 09:00-18:00 seasonally from about April to November and leaves when 2 or more people are aboard. The only ways onto the island are the ferry, the motorboat and the zipline.

Admission and parking prices

Regular admission with the round-trip regular ferry is KRW 19,000 per adult. Discount admission for middle and high school students, severely disabled card holders, national merit holders and ages 70 and over is KRW 16,000. Special admission for children aged 36 months to elementary school is KRW 13,000, and children under 36 months with a guardian enter free.

Groups of 20 or more regular-price visitors get 10% off. Entry with the motorboat in and the ferry out costs KRW 29,000 regular, KRW 26,000 discount and KRW 23,000 special. Parking at the wharf is KRW 6,000 for a small vehicle and KRW 10,000 for a large one for the first 12 hours, then KRW 1,000 per extra hour, card payment only, and Kakao T pre-registered parking is KRW 5,500 small and KRW 6,000 large.

Annual passports start at KRW 59,000 for seniors. For a deeper breakdown see how much does nami island cost.

Kid-first activities

The Picture Book Playground is the main draw for small children. The Story Tour Bus gives a 20 minute loop of the island from the booth near Nami Wharf, and the Charity Train links the Song Museum entrance with the central square. Family bikes seat everyone at the Bike Center, and electric tricycles let younger kids ride with a parent.

Small children's trikes and balance bikes are allowed on the ferry even though adult bikes are not.

Festivals worth timing

The island runs festivals through the year, including the Friendship Blossoms Party in April, the International Children's Book Festival in May, the Acoustic Festival in June, Somewhat Splash in July and August, Winter Wonder Nami Island in January and February and Kimchi-making Day on the third weekend of November. Any of these turns a normal visit into an event day for children.

Season by season

Spring brings cherry blossoms, usually from mid-April to early May. Summer means deep green lanes and a riverside breeze. Autumn runs fiery foliage from mid-October to early December, with the ginkgo lane at its best from late October to mid-November.

Winter snow is the look that made Winter Sonata famous. The full comparison lives in our guide to the best time to visit nami island.

What to do in Nami Island during winter

Winter hours run 09:00-18:00 from November to March, and ferries keep running all year thanks to the icebreaker, so a frozen-river visit is reliable. Walk the bare metasequoia lane, photograph the Winter Sonata statue with snow on the ground, warm up on sweet rice ssiat hotteok at Sonata Cafe and catch Winter Wonder Nami Island in January and February. Our nami island winter tour pairs the island with Eobi Ice Valley on the same day.

Beating the crowds

Take one of the first ferries to enjoy peaceful walks before crowds arrive, especially in spring and autumn. The 08:00 first ferry from Gapyeong Wharf buys you quiet lanes for at least two hours. During the 2026 foliage season from September 18 to November 22 there is even a 07:30 first ferry daily.

A timed plan

Catch the 08:00 first ferry from Gapyeong Wharf. Walk Metasequoia Lane and the pine lane while the paths are quiet. Mid morning, find the Winter Sonata statue in Gongsaengwon Garden and let children loose in the Picture Book Playground.

Around noon, eat chicken skewers and hotteok, then finish with an ice flake sundae from Sonata Cafe. In the early afternoon rent bikes at the Bike Center and ride the island loop, about one hour. Late afternoon, take the Story Tour Bus or the Charity Train if legs are tired, browse Artshop Imagine Nami, and catch any ferry you like, since the last one off the island leaves at 21:05.

Add nearby stops

Nearby day trip stops include Garden of the Morning Calm, Gangchon Rail Bike, Petite France, Italian Village and Alpaca World. Combining two of them with the island is exactly what our tours do.

Petite France and the Italian Village

Petite France is open 09:00-18:00 all year with free parking at 1063 Hoban-ro, Cheongpyeong-myeon. Korea Tourism Organization lists Petite France at adult KRW 16,000 and child KRW 12,000, while the Italian Village page lists the combined Petite France and Italian Village voucher at KRW 19,500 adult and KRW 16,000 child. The Nami Island and Petite France tour covers both with the Garden of Morning Calm.

Garden of Morning Calm, rail bike and Alpaca World

Garden of Morning Calm admission is KRW 11,000 adult, KRW 8,500 teen and KRW 7,500 child, open 08:30-19:00 and 10:00-21:00 in winter. The Gapyeong Rail Bike costs KRW 36,000 for a 2-seater and KRW 48,000 for a 4-seater over an 8 km round trip. Alpaca World admission is KRW 18,000 for ages 36 months to 64 and it closes every Monday and Tuesday.

Our Alpaca World, Nami Island and Rail Bike tour stacks several of these in one day.

Nearby stop comparison

This table puts the main Gapyeong-area stops side by side.

Staying overnight

Hotel Jeonggwanru is the themed hotel on the island, with main building suites at KRW 238,000 and rooms at KRW 148,000 on floors 1 to 2 and KRW 168,000 on floor 3, rates varying by day and season. Bungalows run KRW 280,000 to 440,000 for 4 to 10 guests, atelier houses are KRW 200,000 and 2+2 cottages KRW 180,000. Check-in is 3:00 pm and check-out 11:00 am, and reservations open 3 months ahead.

An annual passport with unlimited regular ferry visits costs KRW 69,000 if you plan repeat trips.